Residents and traders around the Old Garage area of Osogbo, Osun State, were thrown into panic on Sunday after a fire outbreak engulfed a store used for the storage of plastic containers, raising fears that the blaze could spread to nearby buildings, including a filling station.

The fire, which was reported at about 2 p.m., was still being battled by firefighters as of 7:10 p.m. when the incident scene was monitored.

The affected store is located close to a filling station and the Dugbe Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, a situation that heightened anxiety among residents and business owners in the area.

Witnesses said thick smoke was first noticed rising from the building in the early afternoon, prompting an emergency call to the Osun State Fire Service.

A petty trader in the area, Modupe Olatoye, said residents quickly alerted firefighters after discovering smoke coming from the storey building where plastic containers were kept.

“We observed that smoke was coming from the building around 2 p.m. and immediately contacted the Oke Fia Fire Station. The firemen responded promptly and have been working to contain the situation since then,” Olatoye said.

She added that the proximity of the affected building to a filling station and other structures had increased fears of a wider disaster.

“The fear that the fire may spread is causing panic, but the firefighters are doing everything possible to stop it from extending beyond the affected building,” she said.

Speaking at the scene, the spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, Ibrahim Adekunle, confirmed that five fire trucks were deployed to combat the inferno and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties.

“We are still battling to prevent escalation. About five fire trucks have been deployed for the operation. The cause of the fire is not known yet, and the incident was reported to us around 2 p.m.,” Adekunle said.

He added that an investigation would be conducted after firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze.

No casualty had been reported as of the time of filing this report, while the extent of property damage was yet to be officially determined.

The incident adds to a series of fire outbreaks recorded in Osun State in recent years. In January 2025, Akinola Market, a weekly market in Ipetumodu, was gutted by fire, destroying goods worth millions of naira.

The market fire occurred after traders had closed for the day, forcing many of them to rush back to the scene upon receiving reports of the incident. Traders at the time said the cause of the fire remained unknown, with the affected section largely used for storing yam tubers.